Wednesday, July 11, 2018

ND Libertarian candidate denied recount sues

July 10, 2018 - "The only Libertarian who appeared on North Dakota's statewide primary ballot is asking the state Supreme Court for a recount, alleging errors that affected his vote total.

"Roland Riemers appeared in the June 12 primary as the Libertarian candidate for secretary of state. Officially, he received 247 votes statewide for his party's nomination for the office — short of the 300 votes he needed to advance to November's general election....

"[T]he Secretary of State's Office maintains he was the only candidate in his column, and cannot request a recount, according to a June 20 letter.

"The Libertarian also pointed to possible issues with ballot counting and crossover voting for candidates of different parties as reasons for his vote total.

"'I think it's quite possible to pick up 53 votes across the entire state out of 100-some thousand votes that were cast," Riemers said.

"Republican Secretary of State Al Jaeger said, as Riemers had no opposition within his column for his party's nomination for secretary of state, he has no basis for a recount.... 'I don't want to respond more than what we already did. Now it's in the court's hands, and it'll be up to them to decide what they think should be done.'"